Mine got mashed in a car accident, and I have to be sure to take care how I use my arms now. I don't carry loads very far, I have to sleep with my arms straight, and when I experience pain, I take it easy. Position is everything - I play harmonium, and I have to shift it around on my knees so that the angle of my arm varies!

I have a friend who'd had the surgery, but they did his arms differently. In one, they did it the old way. In the other, they embedded the nerve deep in the muscle. The latter operation was far more successful, so if it comes to surgery, maybe you could make sure they do it that way. It's been a long time since I've seen that friend, so I'm afraid I've forgotten many of the details, but knowing I may be facing at the same possibility I did remember that!

Best of luck. I have horrible allergies here in So. California and I'm a singer, so I've got performance issues myself. Blah.

ciarili